Matthew 28

Matthew 28:1-10

Chapter 91 The Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.” (Matthew 28:1-10) The resurrection of Christ is the single greatest event in the history of the world. Without it, our Savior’s incarnation, life, and death as our Substitute and Surety would be altogether meaningless. The resurrection of our Lord is so vital a doctrine that those who deny it deny Christianity altogether. Without the resurrection there would be no such thing as Christianity. Without this, we are yet in our sins, our faith is vain, our hope is a delusion, and our religion is a mockery of men’s souls! If Christ was not raised from the dead, redemption was not accomplished, justice was not satisfied, he is not God, and we are yet under the wrath and curse of the Almighty (1 Corinthians 15:13-17). Today, we seldom here anything preached about the resurrection, except at Easter. But that was not the case in the New Testament. Those who had seen the risen Lord and had experienced the power of his resurrection in the new birth went everywhere preaching “Jesus and the resurrection” (Acts 4:2; Acts 17:18). That is to say, they preached salvation accomplished for sinners by the crucified, risen Christ. This is what Peter preached on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:23-24), before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:10), and to the Gentiles (Acts 10:4). Paul preached the resurrection constantly. Wherever he went, that was his message. This is what he preached in the Synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:30; Acts 13:37), before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem (Acts 23:6), before Felix the Governor (Acts 24:15; Acts 24:21), before King Agrippa (Acts 26:8), to the Church at Rome (Romans 6:3-6), to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 15:4; 2 Corinthians 4:14), to the Galatians (Galatians 1:1), to the Ephesians (Ephesians 1:20), to the Philippians (Philippians 3:10), and to the Colossians (Colossians 2:12). The great apostle to the Gentiles longed to know Christ “and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." Peter spoke of our living hope through the resurrection. — “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4). And in Revelation 1:17-18 John tells us how that he saw and heard the risen, exalted Christ. — “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Our Lord himself declares his resurrection to be the foundation and cornerstone of our hope. He says in John 11:25, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live,” and in Matthew 14:19, “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.” As you read the New Testament, you cannot avoid seeing that this matter of our Lord’s resurrection is vital to Christianity. It is a prominent theme. Unlike most matters of divine revelation, the Holy Spirit pointedly shows us evidence, upon evidence, upon evidence that the resurrection of Christ is an undeniable, irrefutable fact of history. Indeed, of all the facts recorded in Holy Scripture about our Savior, the resurrection is the one thing that is proved clearly and fully. The evidence is simply so overwhelming that it would be impossible to prove anything in the world to a person who rejects it. This thing was not done in a corner (1 Corinthians 15:3-9). Someone once said, “The resurrection of Jesus is the Gibraltar of Christianity and the Waterloo of infidelity and rationalism.” J.C. Ryle wrote, “It is the crowning proof that he has paid the debt which he undertook to pay on our behalf, won the battle which he fought to deliver us from hell, and is accepted as our Surety and our Substitute by our heavenly Father in heaven.” Thanks be unto God, he who was delivered to death because of our offences was also raised from the dead because of our justification (Romans 4:25). The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead is the proof of our redemption by his blood and the basis of our confident hope that we, too, shall soon be raised up from the dead. The Glory of It As we meditate upon the resurrection of our Savior, we should always have a sense of the glory of it. The opening verse of chapter 28 reads, “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.” The verse quite literally reads, “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the sabbath.” I take the verse to mean this: — When the Lord Jesus Christ died at Calvary and rose again, the old sabbath of the law ended and the new sabbath of grace began. Behold our exalted Savior! Do you see him seated yonder upon his throne in heaven? There he sits in the undisturbed, undisturbable serenity of his absolute sovereignty! His rest is his glory (John 17:2; Philippians 2:9-11; Isaiah 45:20-25). He has finished his work (John 17:4; John 19:30). He has brought in everlasting righteousness by his obedience and obtained eternal redemption by his blood.

Because Christ has finished his work, the salvation of his people is certain (Hebrews 9:12). The works were finished before the foundation of the world in God’s purpose. They were finished in time when the God-man took his seat in heaven as our forerunner (Hebrews 6:20). There is no more work to be done. Christ did it all. Since he has finished his work, he sat down in his glory.

There he is resting; and his rest is his glory! The Lord Jesus Christ has entered into his rest, and his rest is glorious, because he has finished his work (Isaiah 11:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 10:11-14), and his rest is glorious, just as Isaiah 11:10 declared it would be. Our Savior’s rest in heaven is his glory. In fact, as I have just stated and as indicated by the marginal translation of the last sentence of Isa 11:10, his rest is his glory. As God the Father rested on the seventh day, because his work of creation was finished; so God the Son rested in the seventh day of time and entered into his rest forever, because he has finished his work of making all things new for his people (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 10:11-14). That which is his rest is our rest (Matthew 11:28-30; Hebrews 4:3). We keep the sabbath of faith, a spiritual sabbath, not a carnal one. We rest in Christ, trusting his finished work, by faith entering into his rest. The believer’s life is a perpetual keeping of the sabbath. None of us keeps it perfectly. Our best faith in this world is still unbelief. But we do keep this blessed sabbath rest sincerely, ever looking to Christ, ever coming to Christ, ever resting in Christ. Our all glorious Christ gives rest to every sinner who comes to him in faith. He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” “I heard the voice of Jesus say, ‘Come unto me and rest, Lay down, thou weary one, lay down Thy head upon my breast.’ I came to Jesus as I was - Weary, and worn, and sad: I found in Him a resting place, And He has made me glad!” The Lord Jesus Christ has given and continually gives us rest. He gives us the rest of complete pardon (Isaiah 45:22; Ephesians 1:6), perfect reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Colossians 1:20-21), absolute security (John 10:27-30; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:24), and of his special providence (Romans 8:28). We do not keep a carnal, legal sabbath, but a perpetual, spiritual sabbath of faith. Christ is our Sabbath. We rest in him. As the ceremonial sabbath of the law portrayed a strict, universal consecration to God, so this blessed sabbath of faith involves the perpetual consecration of ourselves to our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:29-30). We keep the sabbath of faith when we willfully, deliberately take the yoke of Christ. If we would keep the sabbath, it involves much, much more than living in religious austerity one day a week. To keep the sabbath is to bow to Christ’s dominion. To keep the sabbath is to learn of him what to believe, how to live, what to do, how to honor God. To keep the sabbath is to bow to his will. How can a troubled, weary, heavy-laden, tempest tossed sinner obtain this blessed sabbath rest? I can tell you, both from experience and from the Word of God, there is only one way we can enter into his rest. We have to quit working! We have to trust Christ alone for everything! Our Lord’s resurrection glory was announced in a remarkable way. We are told by Matthew that, “There was a great earthquake.” Then we are informed that, “The angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.” Our Lord did not need the help of an angel to roll the stone away from his tomb. But God was pleased to make his Son’s resurrection a glorious thing, accompanied by signs and wonders. Therefore, when his Son arose Conqueror of death, hell, and the grave, he shook the earth and sent an angel wrapped in glory to the scene. I stress this because we need to always remember that our Lord’s resurrection was a type, pledge, and picture of our own. As the grave could not hold him beyond his appointed time, it shall not be able to hold us. As the angel of the Lord witnessed his resurrection, the angels of glory shall both witness and be instruments of our resurrection. They shall gather God’s elect in the day of harvest. As our Savior arose with a renewed, glorious body, but still a recognizable material body, so, too, we shall rise with glorious, yet material bodies in the last day (1 John 3:2). Let all who are taught of God take comfort. Be patient. There is a day soon coming when you and I shall appear with Christ in glory! Here we often meet with trials, sorrows, and persecutions. In this world our lot is one of suffering, weakness, pain, decease, bereavement, and death. But glory awaits us! We shall rise again! The Terror of It Should these lines be read by any who are yet without Christ, I must not fail to remind you of the terror of our Lord’s resurrection. Whenever you think of that great day, do not forget the terror that seized these hardened Roman soldiers and the terror that will seize your soul when Christ shall appear in flaming fire, taking vengeance on his adversaries. We read in Matthew 28:4, “And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.” Those soldiers had witnessed many dreadful sights. They were men of blood. Nothing much bothered them. But as soon as they saw God’s angel, not the risen Christ, but just his angel, they froze with fear. How will you react to the blast of God’s trumpet, the glorious appearing of our great God Jesus Christ, God’s avenging angels, the glory of his saints, and the great white throne? Fear and terror will seize your soul. You will be unable to speak. But your very soul shall wail before the Son of God whom you have despised. When you cannot hide from his presence, you will melt like wax before him. — “Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him” (Revelation 1:7). — “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:15-16). May God give you grace to lay these things to heart. Be wise and consider what your last end shall be. Remember, there is a resurrection. There is a judgment yet to come. There is a thing such as you have never imagined called “the wrath of God and of the Lamb” The Comfort of It I want you who are born of God, when you think of the resurrection of our Lord, to always get the comfort of it. — “And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay” (Matthew 28:5-6). These words were spoken by the angel and recorded by the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit for the benefit of God’s elect in every age and in every place. They are full of meaning. They tell us that we have no cause for fear in this world. Whatever may come our way in this world, whatever trouble or trial we may face, let us remember the resurrection of our Lord and be at peace. The best news you will ever hear came from a graveyard. — “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." Child of God, that means that our Savior is King, our sins are gone, and it is well with our souls! It is certainly true that our Lord shall appear in the clouds of heaven and the earth shall be burned with fire. The graves shall give up their dead. The sea shall give up its dead. The judgment shall be set. The books shall be opened. The dead shall be judged. The angels of God shall divide the good from the bad and the bad shall be burned with everlasting fire. But there is nothing in all this to make believers afraid. Clothed in the righteousness of Christ and washed in his blood, we shall be found without spot and blameless before him. We shall be found in that Ark which cannot be hurt when the flood of God’s wrath is poured out upon the earth. In that great day, “An entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:11). That is to say, we shall enter into everlasting life in a blaze of glory! Then, and not until then, shall both the wicked and the righteous understand the Psalmist’s words, “Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord” (Psalms 33:12). The Message of It What is the message of our Lord’s resurrection? The angel said, “And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me” (Matthew 28:7-10). First, our Lord appeared to these two faithful women who had come to honor his body. They had been the last to leave him after his death and the first to come to his tomb. How greatly he honored their faithfulness! These two women were the first to see the risen Lord! They were the first to hear the risen Christ! They were the first preachers of the Resurrection! Our risen Redeemer’s first thought and first word was for his people. He said, “Go, tell my brethren.” Does that fact not touch your heart? Those words, “my brethren,” deserve an eternity of thoughtful contemplation. The disciples were weak, frail, erring, and filled with unbelief and sin, just as we often are. Yet, the Lord Jesus Christ calls them and us “my brethren.” Just as Joseph comforted his brethren who had sold him, so the Lord Jesus comforts and encourages our hearts. Sadly, the disciples had not lived up to their profession, but had yielded to the fear of man, just as we often do; but Christ is still not ashamed to call them and us “my brethren.” What a joyful meeting that must have been! How unexpected! Yet, that is just what we should expect from him who is not ashamed to call such things as we are “my brethren.” Mark (Matthew 16:7) tells us that the angelic messenger was especially concerned for Peter. He seems especially commissioned to give a message of grace and forgiveness to the most fallen of those whom the Master calls “my brethren.” When he was about to enter into his glory, the Lord Jesus made it a point to show himself to his poor disciples repeatedly, as if to assure them that no change had taken place in his heart. His love for them was still as fresh and as full as when he first embraced them in electing love before the world began. As if to manifest the nearness, dearness, and completeness of his affection for his poor, fearful people, he said to Mary; “Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father; and to my God and your God (John 20:17). If the Son of God is not ashamed to call us his brethren, let us never be ashamed to own him as our Lord. The Assurance of It The fact of our Lord’s resurrection is so basic and fundamental that it under girds and assures us of many things. When we look down into the empty tomb and up into heaven upon the risen Christ, we are assured that the Word of God is all true. Our Lord arose from the dead exactly as he said he would (Matthew 12:40; Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:9; Matthew 17:23). We are assured that our Savior is himself “the mighty God.” Only he who is himself God has power over life and death (Psalms 68:17-20). Our Redeemer’s resurrection assures us that redemption is accomplished. Justice is satisfied. Our sins are pardoned. Righteousness has been brought in for us. The resurrection, assuring us of redemption’s accomplishment, is our assurance that all God’s elect shall be saved. — “As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him” (John 17:2). And we are assured that when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again, there will be another resurrection (John 14:1-3; Job 19:25-26; Psalms 73:24; Isaiah 26:19; Hosea 6:2; John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15:21-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). And after that great, general resurrection comes the judgment!

Matthew 28:11-20

Chapter 92 The Great Commission “Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:11-20) In this last section of Matthew’s Gospel the Holy Spirit inspired his servant to relate several important things to us; matters full of spiritual instruction. The passage begins with a picture of the blind absurdities unbelief will grasp when the truth of God is willfully rejected. Then Matthew shows us that there is in the hearts of true believers much weakness and unbelief. Even when the risen Christ was standing in front of these worshippers “some doubted.” Then Matthew concludes his Gospel narrative of the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ by recording, for our learning, the great commission our Savior gave to his church just before he ascended into heaven. In this great commission our Lord Jesus Christ shows us that it is the blessed privilege and responsibility of his church to preach the gospel to all men, to baptize those who profess faith in him, and to teach believers to observe, obey, and keep all that he has commanded and taught. The Conspiracy In Matthew 28:11-15 the Spirit of God informs us of a conspiracy made by the Jewish religious leaders, demonstrating their dishonesty. These men were highly respected religious leaders. They pretended to have great reverence for God and his law. They pretended to live by the law of God, keeping the commandments with great zeal. But they were corrupt to the core, self-serving dogs. “Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.” Matthew makes no comment concerning this conspiracy on the part of the Jews. He simply states it as a matter of fact. When the chief priests and elders heard from the Roman soldiers who guarded the Lord’s tomb how that he had in fact risen from the dead on the third day, they never gave the matter a thought. They were not interested in knowing the facts. They were not concerned about truth, or concerned for the people they pretended to serve, or concerned for the glory of God. They were only interested in maintaining their position of honor in the eyes of men, power over the lives of others, and personal gain.

They gave no consideration to the evidence. All they wanted to do was to protect themselves and their positions. Therefore, they immediately began what is today called “spin control.” They concocted an unbelievable story and bribed the Roman guards to tell anyone who asked that, “His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept!” That is amazing in itself. But this is even more amazing: — It worked! The Jews who had so willingly followed their blind leaders swallowed their lie hook, line, and sinker. The lie (A lie that is totally unbelievable when you understand the consequences of a Roman sentry sleeping at his post!) was so commonly reported and received that even to this day Jews and others readily grasp I, rather than believing the undeniable evidence of our Lord’s resurrection. But these things should not surprise us at all. The fact is: the prejudice of blind unbelief is so great that it will grasp, believe, and defend the most ridiculous absurdities rather than bow to and receive the revelation of God, no matter how fully and evidently the truth is manifested. When God sends blindness upon those who have deliberately rejected his truth, that blindness is inconceivably great (John 12:37-40; Romans 11:8-10; 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). There is no end to the folly of otherwise smart, even brilliant, educated men and women who willfully reject the truth of God. Rather than believe that God created all things, as is evident from any basis of rational judgment, most people believe that all things in creation evolved from something, though they have no idea what, and that that evolutionary process began so long ago that no one has any idea when or where. And they believe these things without so much as a shred of evidence of any kind. Rather than believe that salvation is by grace alone, in Christ alone, through faith alone, as the Scriptures clearly assert, most people believe that salvation can be obtained in any way a person chooses to seek it, so long as he is sincere. And they believe that we who insist upon the gospel of God’s free and sovereign grace in Christ are divisive, sectarian bigots. Rather than bowing to the Word of God and the law of God as the standard of right and wrong, of righteousness and sin, most people are willing to tolerate and even promote abortion (the murder of unborn infants), euthanasia (the murder of the weak and sick), homosexuality, fornication, adultery, and pornography in the name of morality and freedom. In our society those who promote the murder of babies crusade for the protection of rattlesnakes! Our government forbids the teaching of God’s Word and his law in our schools and demands the teaching of homosexuality, lesbianism, and various methods of sexual perversion to our children in the name of sex education! — “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” I repeat myself deliberately. — There is no end to the folly of otherwise smart, brilliant, educated men and women who willfully reject the truth of God. Doubting Worshippers “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted” (Matthew 28:16-17). — Judas was now dead and the apostle Paul had not yet been converted. So there were only eleven apostles at this time. They, along with more than five hundred brethren (1 Corinthians 15:6), went into Galilee to meet the Lord as he commanded them, both before and after his resurrection (Matthew 26:32; Matthew 28:10). When they saw the Lord Jesus, “they worshipped him: but some doubted.” Even while the risen Christ stood before them, there were some who doubted. We are not told what they doubted. Therefore I will not speculate about the matter. But we are plainly told that some of the Lord’s disciples, some of those five hundred brethren who were there doubted. I call your attention to this fact because I want you to understand and to be constantly aware of the fact that God’s saints in this world are sinners still. We are forgiven but not faultless, pardoned but not perfect, sanctified but not sinless.

Faith and doubt are often found in the same person. We should never have any doubts concerning matters plainly revealed in the Word of God. But the sad fact is, we do. In fact, I have serious questions about the honesty of that man or woman who claims never to have any doubts. There were some on the mount with the risen Christ who believed and yet doubted. I have had enough doubts at times to drive a man into utter despair. And the very best of the best of God’s saints had this same conflict with faith and doubt. Even when he was imprisoned for the testimony of Christ, John the Baptist had some doubts, doubts in the teeth of all that he had personally seen and experienced (Matthew 11:2-3). These things are revealed not to excuse or gloss over the horrible evil of our unbelief, but to let us know and to re-enforce the fact that salvation is by grace alone. God’s saints, so long as we are in this world, are sinners still. Our only righteousness is the righteousness of Christ. If we truly understand and believe these things, they will teach and compel us to be patient, gentle, long-suffering, and forbearing with one another, helping the weak, lifting the fallen, and encouraging the unbelieving. Sinners who need grace and experience it are gracious. All Power “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). — Our risen Lord here declares himself Lord, asserting that all sovereignty, power, dominion, and authority over all things had been given to him as our Mediator (Romans 14:9; Philippians 2:8-11; Psalms 2:8; John 17:2). This power was not given to him as God the Son, the second person of the blessed Trinity. That could never be. As God, he is one with the Father and equal to him in all things from eternity. This power has been given to Christ as our Mediator, because of his obedience unto the Father as our covenant Surety. John Gill wrote, “This is not usurped power, but what is given him, and what he has right to exercise; having finished sin, abolished death, overcome the world, and destroyed the devil.” Our Savior’s power is the power of absolute, universal monarchy. He rules all things everywhere and rules them absolutely. That is the theme of David’s song in Psalms 68:17-20… “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death.” Christ is King over all. The angels of heaven are dispatched by him (Hebrews 1:14). The Holy Spirit and his gifts of grace are dispensed by him (1 Corinthians 12:4-12). The gifts of the ministry are distributed by him (Ephesians 4:8-16). The people and events of this earth are ruled and disposed of by King Jesus. Indeed, Satan and the very demons of hell can do nothing in the earth but by his permission and his decree. And our Lord Jesus Christ exercises this dominion at all times for the salvation of his people. He declares, “Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him” (John 17:2). The Commission “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19). — This is the great commission our Lord Jesus has given to his church. There is absolutely no question about what the mission and ministry of the church of God in this world is. Our work is clearly defined and established by our Master. This commission is not given just to the apostles. It is not given only to preachers, pastors, evangelists, and missionaries. It is a commission given to the whole church of God.

This is not a command to go to mission fields, though that is certainly included in it. Rather, this is a charge to us all to be Christ’s witnesses as we go through this world. The text might better be read, “Therefore, since I am Lord, as you are going into all the world, teach all nations!” J. C. Ryle correctly asserts, “It is the bounden duty of every disciple of Christ to do all he can in person, and by prayer, to make others acquainted with Jesus.” The church of God in this world is here given a threefold responsibility. All three things are our duty and our privilege. It is not our duty to perform part of this commission. We are commanded and responsible to perform the whole thing. First, our Lord commands us to teach, or make disciples of all nations. God has an elect multitude scattered among the nations of the world. Christ has his sheep everywhere. It is our responsibility to seek them out. And the only means we have of doing so is by teaching them his gospel. John Gill informs us that the Persic version explains our Lord’s commission most accurately, “Bring them to my religion and faith.” You and I are responsible in the generation in which we live to make known to all men the gospel of Christ.

Only the Holy Spirit can regenerate and save. Only he can give faith in Christ. But we are responsible to tell out the message of grace. We must make all men know who Christ is, what he did, why he did it, where he is now, and how God saves sinners by the merits of his obedience and death as the sinners’ Substitute. Second, we are commanded to baptize all those who become Christ’s disciples. The order given is clear. Our Lord does not say baptize all nations and make them my disciples. He says, make disciples and baptize them. Baptism is to be administered only to those who are by their own profession Christ’s disciples (Acts 8:37). Baptism, being symbolically buried with him, immersed with him in water, is the believer’s confession of faith in Christ. As such, baptism is the mark of distinction between believers and the rest of the religious world. It is our public oath of allegiance to Christ as our Lord. Baptism, rising up out of the watery grave, portrays and confesses our hope of resurrection glory. Our Lord Jesus specifically tells us that those who are immersed with him in the watery grave are to be immersed “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” as if to declare that the great salvation we are commissioned to proclaim, which we confess in believer’s baptism is the gift and operation of the triune God. Baptism is to be performed in the name of the holy Trinity, the one true and living God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Third, it is the responsibility of God’s church to teach believing sinners all that Christ has commanded us. No local church and no body of churches have any right to alter the doctrine of Christ, dismiss any portion of it as insignificant, or hold back any portion. And none have any right to add anything to the doctrine of Christ, or invent doctrines of their own. It is not our responsibility to decide what people need to hear and know. We are responsible to teach exactly what Christ has commanded in his Word, all of it. Christ’s Promise After giving his great commission, as if to encourage us in the work, strengthen us for it, and comfort us in the trials sure to accompany it, our Lord Jesus Christ makes this great promise to his church. — “And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). With those words, our Savior inspires us to be faithful to him in all things, assuring us of his presence with us. He is with us everywhere, at all times, forever. He is with us daily to pardon, forgive, and sanctify us. He is with us to lead, guide, and protect us. He is with us to provide for us, strengthen us, and preserve us. He is with us in sorrow and in joy. He is with us in trial and in triumph. He is with us while we live. He will be with us when we go down to the grave. He will be with us forever! This is our Savior’s word of promise to his church, to you who believe on him, and to me; and he will stand by it. He who is “the Amen,” puts his own name to his promise. — “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Christ himself is the one who made the promise, the thing promised, and the security of the promise. If the Lord Jesus Christ is with us, compromise is inexcusable, failure is impossible, and whole-hearted devotion to him and his cause is most reasonable (Isaiah 55:11; 1 Corinthians 15:58).